Cut Public Campaign Funding

Colin McEnroe’s Nov. 5 column “Failed Legislature Gives Itself Election Gifts” [Insight] prompts me to question a taxpayer-funded political expense. Not sure if any changes were made in the recently passed, four-month-late Connecticut budget. According to Colin’s article, the 2016 taxpayer-funded expense is $39,410 for primaries, excluding the party dominant grant of $84,450 (really?) and $95,710 for the general election, total of $135,120, without the $84,450.

With the numerous budget reductions, including those to UConn, CT-N, etc., and tax increases disguised as fees, surely substantial reductions in public financing of elections — a minimum of 50 percent — would have contributed to improving the state’s fiscal condition. However, the incumbents would not look favorably at reducing a personal taxpayer-funded benefit. The common excuse? It’s a minor amount. That’s easy to say when spending the taxpayers’ money. The question needs to be answered by the politicians regarding their justification of extreme public financing of elections in times of financial stress.